One plan for the region will involve special Arctic cities. The first city is proposed for a frozen Siberian island will be known as "Umka", housing 5,000 residents underneath a huge dome. The city will be spared from the harsh weather — -30 degrees Celsius in the winter with strong winds — by the dome, living instead in a sealed environment.

"Researchers could live there permanently rather than for short expeditions only," the developers said. "It is modeled after an imaginary Moon city or a completely isolated space station."

"We aim to have laboratories, houses, but also parks, an Aqua complex, hotels and a cathedral. Naturally there will be schools, kindergartens, recreation zones, a hospital and sport facilities," one architect told the British paper.